Spring attachment for articles of wear, &amp;c.



No. 692,04l.

Patented Ian. 28, |902.'

P. E. WIRT. SPRING ATTACHMENT FOR ARTICLES 0F WEAR, 8L6.

(Application filed Aug. 29, 1901.)

3 Sheets-She's: I.

'No. 692,04l. Patented Jan. 28, I902.

- P. E. WIRT SPRING ATTACHMENT FOR ARTICLES or WEAR, m.

gA ucmon' filed Aug. 29, isms. v (No Model.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

5 tfozmu No. 692,04l. T Patented. Jan. 28, I902; P. E. WIRT.

SPRING ATTACHMENT FUR ARTICLES 0F WEAR, &c. (Application filed Au 29, 1901. (No Model.) s Sheets--Sheet 3.

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PATENT FFKQE.

PAUL E. WIRT, OF BLOOMSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

SPECIFICATION forming part-of Letters Patent No. 692,041, dated January 28, 1902. Application filed August 29, 1901. Serial No. 73,665. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, PAUL E. W'IRT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bloomsburg, in the county of Columbia and State of Penn sylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spring Attachments for Articles of Wear, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to spring attachments for articles of wear and analogous uses, and more particularly has reference to that class of devices providing a spring or elastic action for articles of wear, such as suspenders and the like.

To this end the invention contemplates novel and practical forms of spring attachments primarily embodying the type of spring disclosed in my allowed application, Serial No. 59,453, filed May 9, 1901, and also presenting certain improved features contributing largely to the practicability and efliciency of the device for the purposes intended.

The present invention has in view the pro vision of such forms of spring attachment for suspenders and the like which comprise means for giving such a free and lively spring action as to insure ease to the user of the article fit ted with the invention while at the same time embodying a construction of spring and such an arrangement of the attaching element or elements therewith'as to provide for the greatest lengthening of the suspender or other article by the action of the spring within the most limited space and also with the least possible friction upon the adjacent clothing.

In addition to the character of the spring and its general relation to the attaching element or elements, whereby the greatest possible efiiciency is derived from the spring, the presentinvention also contemplatesnovel and improved means for guiding the attaching element or elements and holding the same in proper relation to the spring-wire body of the attachment, whereby the friction incident to the lengthening of the attaching element or elements under stress is reduced to aminimum.

Specifically speaking, the invention has in view the provision of antifriction-guides of a pivotal or self-adjusting type and so mounted or arranged as to automatically or freely adjust themselves to the movement, plane, or

direction of the attaching element or elements, thus reducing friction and consequent wear upon the said attachingelement or elements. In this connection it may be added that the self-adjusting guides afford full bear.- ing-surfaces for the attaching element or ele-. ments to run over with the spring in any position, and consequently acute angles or turns for the attaching element or cord are entirely obviated and liveliness is also materially H added to the action of the spring itself.

With .these and manyother objects in View, which will readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated, and claimed.

The fundamental features of the invention are susceptible to embodiment in divers modifications without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. However, for illus trative purposes the invention claimed is shown in a few of its preferred embodiments in the drawings, in which-- Figure 1 is an elevation of one form of spring attachment shown applied to the front end of an inelastic suspender-strap, the view disclosing the combination of the se1f-adjusting guides with a single-coil type of spring wire body. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the same form of attachment, showing the same under stress with the side arms of the spring-wire body drawn downward and close together, thus providing for a considerablelengthening of the suspender, the view also indicating the manner in which the pivoted guides adjust themselves to the position of the attaching element or cord. Fig. 3 is a similar view of the same formation of attachment shown under stress and at an angle, thus indicating the wide range of accommodation of the spring and its guides to stress exerted at different angles. Fig.4 is aview similar to Fig. 1, illustrating a form exemplifying the novel combination of the wire body with a spring coil, the terminal guides, and the arrangement ofthe attaching element or cord in a manner to exert a direct cross stress or pull upon the terminals of the spring between the guides. Figs. 5 and 6 are views of the spring-wire body itself, showing a modification in the form of spring-coil, illustrating how the same may be made of round orfiattened wire to provide for less bulk in the spring should this be found necessary. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of another form of the invention, showing how the self-adjusting guides may be associated with a cross-reeved arrangement of the attaching elements similar to the reeving disclosed in the allowed application aforesaid. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the form of spring attachment shown in Fig. 7, illustrating the several elements thereof disassociated to disclose one preferred means of pivotallyconnecting the self-adj usting guides with the terminals of the spring-wire body. Figs. 9 and 10 are modifications of theinvention, showing how the attaching elements in the cross-reeved arrangement may have a fixed connectipn with stress-points on the spring-arms instead of being connected directly with the self-adjusting guides. Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a modification, showing a novel manner of reeving separate attaching elements and associating the same with self-adjusting guides. Fig. 12 is a detail in perspective of one of the guides shown in Fig. 11. Fig. 13 is an elevation of another form of parallel reeving, showing the attaching elements associated with pivoted guides. Fig. 14 is a detail in perspective of one of the self-adjusting guides shown in Fig. 13.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in. the several figures of the drawings.

It is of course understood that the invention may be used in any practical or desired manner in connection with inelastic suspenders or like articles of wear where it is desired to secure a maximum resiliency and effective spring action, while at the same time provid ing for the greatest possible lengthening of the suspenderor like article without losing or impairingthesetofthespring. Henceinevery embodiment of the invention it is-of the greatest importance that the spring or the acting spring portion, which is the coil or coils, be of such construction and arrangement as to be capable of withstanding great stress and wear without losing its set and at the same time being active or lively. These same characteristics are necessary qualifications of the spring disclosed in my allowed application aforesaid, and the present invention has in view, as already stated, such embodiments of the spring attachment as accentuate the improved and useful combination of the coiled spring body, the oppositely-extending mum efficiency of spring action and a miniis offset laterally from the main length of wire and serves to greatlyincrease the resiliency of the body and also serves to cause the same to entirely resume its original set when completely relieved of stress or strain. As far as the novel combination of elements above specified is concerned there may be one or a plurality of the spring-coils 2 between the ends of the spring-wire body; but inas muchv as the present application is for the purposes of distinction and clearness restricted to the illustration of the single-coil forms of attachment only such forms will be specifically mentioned and shown. The springcoil 2 may obviously be formed of any number of convolutions of spring-wire and also may be constructed of round or flattened wire, as indicated in Figs. 5 and 6, as may be found best adapted for a particular use; but irrespective of the specific formation of the spring coil or coils the spring-wire body 1 is provided at opposite sides of the plane thereof with oppositelyextending yielding side arms 3. These oppositely-extendingside arms 3 of the spring-wire body in their normal position preferably extend at approximately right angles to the offset spring-coil 2. In all forms of the invention these side arms are designed to carry at their terminals antifriction-guides at of some suitable form, which guides serve to loosely and freely carry the flexible attaching element or elements 5, utilized to effect a connection between the spring-wire body and the pantaloons or other object to be yieldingly held or fastened through the medium of the spring attachment.

In the forms of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, of the drawings the antifriction-guides 4 are shown as beingpe'ndent from the outer ends or terminals of*the arms 3 of the spring-wire body and are also illustrated as having associated therewith an attaching element or cord 5, consisting of a continuous single cord having a free play through both guides and provided at its terminals with the usual tabs or loops 6 for connection with the buttons of a pair of trousers. With this combination of parts an efficient spring action and a maximum lengthening of the suspender are rendered possible. I am aware of the fact that it is old in the art to associate guides with a spring-wire body having no coil and also to utilize therewith a continuous or singleattachingelement. Thisconstructionprovides for an exceedingly poor spring action as the maintenance of the original set of the spring, as is provided for by the construction already described, in which there is associated with a spring-wire body having a spring coil or coils between its opposite arms guides at the terminals of said arms and an attaching element having a loose running engagement through the guides and arranged to exert a direct cross stress or pull upon the terminals of the side arms between the guides and entirely within the plane intersecting both guides. Every element of this construction and combination of'parts contributes to producing the Very efficient spring action and maximum lengthening of the suspender within a very limited space, as contemplated by the present invention, and it should be further observed at this point that other factors of the invention which are of importance in securing the results described are, first, the normal disposition of the yielding side arms 3, in the preferred construction these side arms in their normal positions projecting from opposite sides of the coil in substantially the same tangential plane and may therefore properly be said to normally lie substantially in alinement, and, second, in the portion of the attaching element between the guides being approximately coextensive in length with the combined lengths of the side arms, or, in other words, approximately coextensive in length with the entire length of the body in its normal extended condition. All of these features cooperate together to produce a device providing for the maximum lengthening of the suspender within a restricted area, besides securing a very lively and efficient spring action. This novel and efficient combination of elements in a spring attachment may be carried out with either fixed or self adj usting antifriction-guides 4, and to emphasize this Fig. 4 of the drawings is included in the illustration to show theterminals of the spring-arms 3 as be,-

ing fitted with guides 4 of a fixed type. These guides are shown as essentially consisting of curved guiding-sleeves 7, having attachingelbows 8 fixedly fastened upon the ends of the spring-arms 3, although any other form of fixed guide may be embodied in the const-ruction shown in Fig. 4. In addition to the combination described in connection with the spring-wire body an important feature of the present invention resides in having the guides 4 of a self-adjusting or pivotal type. Broadly speaking, the self-adjusting guides 4 are pivoted upon axes disposed transversely to the spring-arms carrying the same, whereby the guides turn or swing within the longitudinal plane of the spring-body toward and from each other in the direction of stress or pull. Consequently the said guideswill adjust themselves to the movement, plane, or direction of the attaching element or cord,

thus reducing friction and consequent wear nponthe cord. Also, whatever position the spring may assume, the self-adjusting guides afford full bearing-surfaces for the attaching elements to run over and entirely obviate acute angles or turns. I

In the simple forms of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 3 of the drawings the self-adjusting or pivotal guides 4 are shown as consisting of segmental or curved guiding-sleeves 9, having upstanding ears 10, pivotally connected with the terminals of the spring-arms 3 by means of the transverse pivot 11--tl1at is, a pivot which is disposed transversely to the longitudinal plane of the spring-arm carryingt-hesame. Thismannerofpivotallyhanging the self-adjusting guides from the ends of the spring-arms provides for said guides turning or swinging within the longitudinal plane of the spring-wire body toward and from each other in the direction of stress or pull. Of course the self-adjusting guides may be constructed in any desired manner, and also may be pivotally mounted upon the ends of the spring-arms in any manner, so long as theymaintain the relation described tosuch arms; but a practical way of forming the selfadjusting guides is shown in detailin Fig. 8 of the drawings, in which the guide 4 is shown as consisting of a metal plate doubled upon itself and bent to form a segmental guiding-sleeve 9 and oppositely-arranged attaching-ears 10, which ears are perforated to receive the pivot or pivot-stud 11. In the construction shown the pivot-stud 11 is fitted within an annularly-grooved pivot-washer 12, set within an eye 13, formed at the end of the spring-arm 3 by bending or looping the spring-wire.

In the figure of the drawingsj ust described a modified form of self-adjusting guide 4 is illustrated, adapted for a cross-reeved arrangement of the attaching elements, such as shown in my allowed application aforesaid. This modification simply consists in forming the metal body above the guidingsleeve 9 with a socket portion 14, having at I the sides thereof inwardly-bent prongs 15, de-

signed to engage the endsof the crossing 'attaching elements or cords, thus providing holding members for the attaching elements contiguous to the guides which loosely receive the same. The construction described necessarily provides stress-points for the crossing attaching elements contiguous to the guides, although in the arrangement shown in Figs. 7 and 8 of the present case the attaching elements are not connected directly to the yielding arms of the spring-wire body. However, it is obvious that the self-adjusting or pivotal guides may beassociated with crossing attaching elements, whose fixed ends are connected directly to the yielding arms of the spring-wire body by means of holding members, such modifications being shown in Figs. 9 and 10 of the drawings, and the holding members on the spring-arms for the fixed ends of the elements being designated by the reference-number 16.

Figs. 7, 9, and 10 showthe self-adjusting guides associated with a cross-reeved arrangement of the attaching elements similar to that disclosed in the allowed application; but in the modification shown in Figs. 11 and 12 of the drawings there is illustrated a form of self-adjusting guide 4 having the guidingsleeve 9' and the holding member or socket 14. arranged side by side in the same trans verse plane, thus making it possible for the oppositely-arranged attaching elements 5 to be reeved in opposite directions, but in paral lel relation side by side, whereby crossing of the attaching elements or cords is entirely obviated. Likewise in the modification shown in Figs. 13 and 1 L of the drawings another form of self-adjusting or pivotal guides is illustrated in which the guiding-sleeve 9 and the holding member or socket 14 are arranged in substantially the same relation as shown in Fig. 7, but the separate attaching elements or cords are disposed in parallel relation one above the other to obviate the direct crossing of the elements or cords. 1 These 3 guides; but as the specific reeving of attaching elements shown in Figs. 11 to 14 of the additional modifications show the possibilities of use of single and a plurality of attacl1 ing elements with self-adj usting antifrictiondrawings can obviously be employed with fixed or pivotal guides this manner of reeving is not specifically claimed in the present application.

Various other modifications of the invention may be resorted to without departing ing a spring-coil and oppositely-projecting yielding side arms extended from the terminals of the coil, at opposite sides thereof, and normally lyiugsubstantially in alinement,antifriction-guides located at the outer terminals of the side arms, and an attaching element arranged to exert a direct cross stress or pull between the guides upon the terminals of the side arms, the portion of said element between the guides being approximately coextensive .in length with the body in its normal extended condition.

2. A spring attachment of the class described, comprising a spring-wire body having oppositely-extendingyielding side arms, self-adjusting antifriction-guides carried by said arms and having an independent movement within the plane of the body in a direction toward and from each other, and a flexible attaching element.

3. A spring attachment of the class described comprising a spring-wire body having oppositely-extending yielding side arms,

self-adj usting guides pivotally carried by the terminals of said arms and having axes dis posed transversely thereto, and a flexible attaching element.

4. A spring attachment of the class described comprising a spring-wire body having oppositely-extending yielding side arms, self-adjusting pendent guides pivotally suspended from the terminals of said arms and having their axes disposed transversely of the latter whereby the guides will turn orswing within the longitudinal plane of the body in the direction of stress or pull, and the attaching element.

5. A spring attachment of the class de- 

